EC Staff Petition JM
By Prince Ahenkorah
The Electoral Commission (EC) is facing escalating scrutiny as new petitions demanding the removal of Chairperson Jean Mensa and her deputies continue to emerge.
The latest petition, submitted by EC staff member Joseph Blankson Adumadzie, calls on President John Dramani Mahama to initiate the constitutional process for their dismissal, alleging misconduct that threatens the integrity of the nation’s electoral framework.
In a statement released on Monday, November 24, Mr. Adumadzie confirmed that his petition was lodged in accordance with Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, which outlines the procedures for removing heads of independent constitutional bodies.
While he refrained from disclosing specific details due to legal constraints, he revealed that his petition cites 12 counts of misconduct, including accusations of cronyism, abuse of office, and gross incompetence.
According to Adumadzie, these actions have severely eroded public confidence in the EC, jeopardizing the Commission’s independence and credibility.
He maintains that his initiative is driven solely by a commitment to uphold the Constitution and promote accountable governance, urging President Mahama to fulfill his constitutional duty by referring the petition to the Chief Justice for a determination of a prima facie case.
This development is compounded by another petition from Ghanaian citizen Daniel Kwame Ofosu-Appiah, also seeking the removal of Mensa and her two deputies, Dr. Bossman Eric Asare and Samuel Tettey, as well as Commissioner Dr. Peter Appiahene. Dated September 24, 2025, this supplementary petition follows an initial complaint filed on January 27, 2025, accusing the EC leadership of misrepresentation, mismanagement of public resources, negligence, and breaches of statutory obligations.
A copy of the petition, reviewed by The New Republic, invokes Article 146, asserting that the actions of the EC leadership constitute incompetence and misbehavior meriting their removal.
Central to the assertions is a claim that the EC intentionally misrepresented the condition of biometric equipment prior to the 2020 elections, stating publicly that many voter registration and verification devices were outdated.
This contradicts supplier records indicating that several devices were refurbished or newly procured as recently as 2018 and 2019.
Mr. Ofosu-Appiah argues that this misrepresentation misled the public and led to costly procurement decisions detrimental to the state.
The petition also raises alarms about the negligent management of sensitive electoral data, highlighting a case where biometric devices containing voters’ personal information were discovered at a recycling facility an incident acknowledged by the EC.
The petitioner asserts that this breach of data handling violates the Data Protection Act of 2012 (Act 843) and exposes Ghana to significant security risks, characterizing the EC leadership’s negligence as gross incompetence.
Furthermore, accusations of financial wastage emerge, with claims that the EC disposed of functioning biometric devices, acquired at a considerable expense, only to invest in a new Biometric Voter Management System (BVMS) in 2020.
Independent observers, including the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), reportedly confirmed the functionality of the so-called obsolete devices during the 2018 referendum and the 2019 district-level elections, often outperforming the newly acquired systems.
Perhaps most damning are the allegations regarding failures to comply with constitutional asset declaration requirements. Under Article 286, public officials must declare their assets within six months of taking office.
Records from the Auditor-General reveal that Jean Mensa filed her asset declaration over a year late; Dr. Bossman Asare also missed the deadline; Samuel Tettey delayed for more than six years; and Dr. Peter Appiahene has yet to file his declaration since his appointment in March 2023.
The petitioner contends that these lapses are grave violations rather than mere administrative oversights, reflecting a broader pattern of disregard for accountability.
Mr. Ofosu-Appiah is urging President Mahama to refer both his initial and supplementary petitions, along with supporting exhibits, to the Chief Justice for review, advocating for the removal of EC leadership if the inquiry substantiates their culpability.
As the momentum of these petitions gathers steam, the pressure on the EC leadership escalates. With allegations ranging from misrepresentation and data mismanagement to procurement violations and constitutional breaches, the actions taken by the Presidency and judiciary in the coming days will be closely scrutinized, with significant implications for the credibility of Ghana’s electoral administration hanging in the balance.